Mineral Mystery

60 minute Program | All Ages

Mineral Mystery introduces students to the basics of mineral identification using mineral properties such as streak, cleavage, lustre, magnetism, and colour. In this workshop, we’ll discuss how we use minerals in our everyday lives and explore the unique properties of common rock-forming minerals. Students will be able to touch real specimens and learn tools and tricks for how geologists identify minerals. This hands-on workshop lasts approximately one hour.

Science 4: Matter has mass, takes up space, and can change phase
• Phases of matter

Science 5: Earth materials change as they move through the rock cycle and can be used as natural resources
• The rock cycle, local types of earth material

Science 6: Everyday materials are often mixtures
• Mixtures

Science 7: Elements consist of one type of atom, and compounds consist of atoms of different elements chemically combined
• Elements and compounds are pure substances, crystalline structure of solids, chemical changes

Science 9: The electron arrangement of atoms impacts their chemical nature
• The arrangement of electrons determines the compounds formed by elements

Earth Science 11: Earth materials are changed as they cycle through the geosphere and are used as resources, with economic and environmental implications
• Earth materials can be identified and classified based on their properties

Earth Science 12: Minerals and rocks are the foundation of the rock cycle and can be used as resources that drive industry and global economies
• Minerals can be classified and grouped based on their properties and composition